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Longtime Cardinals organist Ernie Hays dies at 77

November 1st, 2012 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) – The man who provided the soundtrack of St. Louis Cardinals baseball for four decades has died. The Cardinals on Thursday announced the death of Ernie Hays, a St. Louis native who spent 40 seasons as the ballpark organist. Hays was 77 when he died Wednesday night. A cause of death was not announced.

Hays also served as organist for the NHL’s St. Louis Blues, college sports teams and for professional soccer in St. Louis. But he is best known for his work at both the old and new Busch Stadiums. He began his sports music career when the Cardinals installed an organ in 1971. His version of “Here Comes The King,” a Budweiser beer advertising jingle, soon became a staple at every game. Hays retired from the Cardinals in 2010.